The folks at Car and Driver Magazine fall all over themselves singing the praises of the M3, but for nearly the same money I'll take the sexier 911.
Both run nearly the same quarter-mile times(12.5 and 12.6). Both have dual-clutch 7-speed transmissions, but the 911 has a taller 7th. gear, just right for high speed cruising. Despite the better better/weight ratio and shorter gearing of the M3, the 911 is one-tenth faster in the quarter. Go figure.
BMW builds great cars but a Porsche is a Porsche is a Porsche.
Neither cars are really all that impressive. at least i fit in a bmw m3.
Both cars are impressive, but of these two, only the M3 (even in coupe form) will allow someone my height (6' 2"; 188cm) to fit comfortably. Driving even the finest car in a contorted position is not fun.
I live in New England, and as a daily driver it is hard to beat the 335xi Coupe - acceleration, handling, brakes, looks, and the very tractable x-drive for winter make it a better choice than the M3 or the Porsche if you only have one car.
Not quite M3 performance, but still faster than all but a very few cars. Silky smooth engine, great 6-speed manual, and a less punishing ride for daily use. Except for all-out performance which you rarely get to use, it is a nicer car to drive than either of the others.
I have a 328xi coupe 6-speed, but wish I had the extra 70 HP of the 335. Even so, it is a constant delight to drive. Anyone not impressed by these cars hasn't driven them or is insanely wealthy. You have to spend so much more money to get something significantly better all around.
I think for the money an Infinti M45x is a better car than both of them. and less than $60K
The M45 is nice, but much larger - more the size of the BMW 5-series. The M45 is not available all-wheel-drive, and the M35 that is does not have the power.
M45 is more of a luxury car than the 3-series or certainly the 911. If you want a bigger car with an interior that looks like fine furniture, cushy amenities, and still exhilarating performance, I agree that the M45 is a great choice - better than the BMW 5-series, Audi A6, Mercedes E class, or Lexus GS460 that are its direct competitors.
While the 355xi Coupe and the M45 are superior in their categories, I think they are sufficiently different that not many people would cross-shop them. The BMW 335xi Coupe (starting at $44,100) and the Infiniti M45 are comparably priced.
The Infiniti G37x Coupe is more of a direct comparison with the BMW 335xi Coupe. The G37x is a great machine - fast, great hanDling, and sexy styling. The BMW is more refined and all-around a little more to my taste, but either is a terrific machine. For me, the usable back seat and trunk plus the availability of a 6-speed manual transmission you can't get in the G37x, and the BMW wins.
i like the porsche better... if i had the money i would have one...
